South Side Flats in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Oliver Iron and Steel
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 30, 2021
1. Oliver Iron and Steel Marker
Inscription.
Oliver Iron and Steel. Three Rivers Heritage Trail. The stone and brick foundations, industrial objects, and other archaeological remains along this section of the trail are remnants of the famous Oliver Iron and Steel Company. A leading national manufacturer of all types of nuts and bolts, hardware for wagons, barbed wire and industrial equipment, the company's origins can be traced to the Civil War. The company expanded its factories over 10 city blocks along the South Side riverfront and at one time employed 1,000 men.
An optimistic pioneer in the business of steel manufacturing, Henry W. Oliver, founder of the company, was instrumental in developing the Mesabi iron ore mines near Lake Superior to supply Pittsburgh's factories with higher quality ores. To transport iron from the Great Lakes region to Pittsburgh, Oliver invested in the new Pittsburgh and Western Railroad. The company's use of giant steam shovels to scoop up the iron ore in Minnesota, and to transport it efficiently by Great Lakes ore boats and railways to Pittsburgh, resulted in lower prices for the steel industry. Oliver finally sold his iron ore business to his friend Andrew Carnegie.
In 1915 the Oliver Iron and Steel Company built the Oliver Bath House on the corner of South Tenth and Bingham Streets so employees could cleanse themselves of coal soot and dirt before they walked home. The Bath House is now used for recreation, but Oliver's mills closed in 1930 and were later demolished.
(captions) , Henry W. Oliver , Red and yellow brick floors from the factory's machine shop remain along the trail. , The base of this giant smokestack from the factory's power house can be found along the trail. , This stone pier once supported a wooden covered bridge that crossed the river here. The pier later supported a crane used by Oliver to hoist coal from barges. , The Oliver Iron and Steel factory used the river to receive and ship goods and supplies. Archives of Industrial Society, University of Pittsburgh
The stone and brick foundations, industrial objects, and other archaeological remains along this section of the trail are remnants of the famous Oliver Iron and Steel Company. A leading national manufacturer of all types of nuts and bolts, hardware for wagons, barbed wire and industrial equipment, the company's origins can be traced to the Civil War. The company expanded its factories over 10 city blocks along the South Side riverfront and at one time employed 1,000 men.
An optimistic pioneer in the business of steel manufacturing, Henry W. Oliver, founder of the company, was instrumental in developing the Mesabi iron ore mines near Lake Superior to supply Pittsburgh's factories with higher quality ores. To transport iron from the Great Lakes region to Pittsburgh, Oliver invested in the new Pittsburgh and Western Railroad. The company's use of giant steam shovels to scoop up the iron ore in Minnesota, and to transport it efficiently by Great Lakes ore boats and railways to Pittsburgh, resulted in lower prices for the steel industry. Oliver finally sold his iron ore business to his friend Andrew Carnegie.
In 1915 the Oliver Iron and Steel Company built the Oliver Bath House on the corner of South Tenth and Bingham Streets so employees could cleanse themselves of coal soot and dirt before they walked home. The Bath House is now used for recreation, but Oliver's mills closed in 1930 and were later demolished.
(captions)
Henry W. Oliver
Red and yellow brick floors from the factory's machine shop remain along the trail.
The base of this giant smokestack from the factory's power house can be found along the trail.
This stone pier once supported a wooden covered bridge that crossed the river here. The pier later supported a crane used by Oliver to hoist coal from barges.
The Oliver Iron and Steel factory used the river to receive and ship goods and supplies. Archives of Industrial Society, University of Pittsburgh
Erected by Friends
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of the Riverfront, DCNR, Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, City of Pittsburgh, SecondSole.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 40° 25.919′ N, 79° 59.115′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in the South Side Flats. It is on Three Rivers Heritage Trail half a mile east of South 4th Street, on the left when traveling east. Not accessible by motorized vehicle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Immigrant Steel Workers
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 657 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 2, 2021, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
